That GFL was a blank designation that meant Graphite Fly Rod and all blanks were GFL perhaps even unto today.

The RP (gen II Graphite) was the first "model," in the Sage Rods circa 1980 or soon after followed in or around 83 or soon after by the RPL or (Gen III Graphite) The LLs came along in or around 85 with the RPLX following in 86 and both were Gen III Graphite. Some time following these or perhaps the same year the RPL+ came out and then in 1994 the SP series hit the market followed by the SP+ in about a year. These were the highest modulous rods yet and built with Gen IV graphite and a new material called Durascrim.

In 97 they dropped back to Gen III I believe and the VPS, the SPL and the RPLXi came out and then in 99 the XP. In 2002 the SLT and TCR, and 2004 Xi2 were the first rods using G5 Gen5 Graphite technology. 2005 brough the TXL, Launch and the the Fli rods all G5 rods. 2006 brought the VT2 replacing the VPS not mentioned above but which came out in the late 90s.
2007 Z Axis. 2008 Bass Series and the ZXL. 2009 the TCX.

Whew too many years have passed since I first sold Sage!!! On a side note the Gen IV super fast modulus graphite was the highest modulous rod since Fenwick intro'd the Iron Feather and as best I recall both were a Don Green design as he'd come to Sage in 79/80 from Fenwick/Grizzly.

This is a great thread. I'm personally very interested in Sage rod history and have started collecting older Sage models. This is the first list that is as comprehensive as this.

Just a couple of observations, the XP and the SLT did "drop back" to GIII technology but the graphite is GIIIe. I'm assuming the "e" has some significance for point of discussion, especially since it replaced the GIV and the only line of rods that incorporated Durascrim. I personally don't know what it means.

The LL rods were also rolled with GIII blanks but I don't know when they switched from GII to GIII.

The VPS and the VPS Light were added to the discussion. My understanding of the VPS Light is that it was built with the same taper and design as the GIII LL rods, with lesser components. So yes, it is a "lower end" rod, so to speak, the description of the action would be moderate. I'm not sure on the straight VPS.

As Mike points out, there were two different Sage LL series releases. The first was out somewhere during the run of the graphite II RP and its blank stated that it was graphite II. The second was introduced during the run of the graphite III RPL ( Reserve Power Light ) and it’s blank also stated it was graphite III. If you had both generations of LL’s say in a nine foot, five weight configuration you’d be able to notice the butt diameter difference foreword of the cork ( The G II versions butt would be thicker ). The action of the graphite II LL was stiffer than it’s successor and the G II's were heavier. Actually, there were three LL series of rods, if we include the re-release of select models ( I think the 389-3 or 389-4 was one of them ) of the G III's that were produced as a special run some years after the G III's were discontinued.

But then if we include those LL's, we might as well say that there were two XP series', since a special run of limited models were produced for two retailers ( One being Cabela's, a sponsor here ), well after the original XP's had been discontinued from the Sage line-up.

A rod that is missing from the list was only around for a short while. It was the MA series or Medium Action and was only available in a few models. It utilized an unsanded gray blank, and very simple hardware. It was basically an entry level rod that came in at around $125.00 mark. If memory serves, it was out near the end of the RP’s reign or possibly early in the RPL's time..

Then there is the one pictured here. It’s an early Graphite I series and it has no series designation. From memory, it predates the RP. For those that don’t know, the letter “B” that follows the word Graphite simply designates that it was produced to be sold as a Blank and not a factory finished rod. This particular blank was rescued from a closeout bin at Pete Wooley’s old shop, Fly Fishing Outfitters ( Now known as Leland’s, a sponsor here. ) in San Francisco, CA in 1985 and was built and fished for a few years. It’s currently slated for a rebuilt, whenever I get around to it….although I’ve been saying that now for quite a few years.

Great job on a great company whoes founders introduced the very first grahite rod in 1974 under the name, Fenwick HMG. Besides adding the SP, which was the top-of-the-line rod for a while, there was an extra-fast version called SP+ as well.